The enemy of creativity is the word “no.” I’m reminded of this just as Allison & Partners has wrapped up its first Cause Conference in Los Angeles. Many years ago, I had an idea to host one of these conferences as a means to help my firm stay competitive in the marketplace. I brought the concept to my former CEO and received the following feedback, “we are a PR firm, not conference planners.” This always gnawed at me. Not because I felt I was smarter than the CEO, but because he just flat out turned it down without recognizing that there might be something there or appreciating the thought. Later, these initial ideas took root, and along with Parker Pike in San Diego, we created the AMA’s Annual Cause Marketing Conference, now going into its 12th year.

Today is a new day with new opportunity, a new agency and a new team. Allison & Partners prides itself on disruption, innovation, and empowerment. In our Los Angeles office, we constantly talk about how we can help build our brand in our community and a make a difference. One of the office’s specialties is cause-related marketing. We work with some great brands and counsel them on how to select their charity partners and develop a strategic long-term Corporate Socialanthropy platform in which their giving, business and engagement activities align to make a difference that is authentic, responsible and transparent. We teach these philosophies at other people’s conferences and through UCLA’s Extension program. So why not put on a conference to help our local charities?

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